Lost in California's Clear Creek: Our Failed Quest to Reach New Idria Ghost Town [OTBT 16]

Описание: We explore the rugged beauty of Clear Creek Management Area (CCMA), a remote and vast public land in California's Coast Range. The striking landscape of serpentine hills, rich in natural and historical significance, is a sight to behold. Much of the land contains serpentine, the state rock of California, which harbors veins of naturally occurring asbestos, shaping access and conservation efforts in the region. The CCMA's miles of winding dirt roads offer opportunities to discover stunning vistas and challenging terrain, and the area is irresistible to adventurers and off-road enthusiasts. However, visitors must follow safety guidelines due to the presence of asbestos in the dust.

Permit information (from the BLM site, current as of September 2024):

Permits are required when visiting the CCMA. Please note that you may need multiple permits to access areas within the CCMA. Carefully read each permit description and use this chart to help you decide which permit(s) you need. The following permits are available for advanced reservation:

Serpentine Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) Permit: This free permit allows an individual to access the Serpentine ACEC within the Clear Creek Management Area for one day. Regardless of age, each person entering the Serpentine ACEC must have a permit in their name and on their person. An individual is allowed a total of five permits per calendar year.

Clear Creek Vehicle Permit: Vehicles entering the Clear Creek Management Area, including the Condon Peak campground and trailhead, are required to have a Clear Creek Vehicle Permit. The permit is $5 per vehicle and allows the vehicle to enter for seven days from the date of entry. Each vehicle must display the permit on its dash while in the Clear Creek Management Area.

Asbestos Information (from the Recreation.gov site):

The risk of exposure to airborne asbestos exists within Clear Creek year-round. Visitors should take measures to reduce exposure to dust while in the area. Children are most at risk from exposure. Recommendations to minimize exposure include avoiding the area during dry or dusty conditions, avoiding opening vehicle doors until visible dust has cleared, keeping windows closed and ventilation on recirculate, washing vehicles before returning home, laundering clothing separately, and using a HEPA vacuum to clean the vehicle interior.

Please think twice before bringing your child to the CCMA due to the naturally occurring asbestos and associated health risks.

Clear Creek Management Area at Recreation.gov (book permits online here): https://www.recreation.gov/vehicleper...

Clear Creek overview at Recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/ga...

Clear Creek information on the BLM site: https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreati...

New Idria information on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Idr...

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▶ Chapters

0:00 Intro & enter Clear Creek Management Area
2:30 Fee station and discussion of permits
4:55 Oak Flat campground
6:48 Entrance to the Serpentine Asbestos ACEC
9:20 A random encounter with a fellow carrying a gun
10:35 First route decision point, fallen signpost.
10:53 Leaving the Clear Creek valley floor
14:03 Progress status check and decision point number 2
14:27 Let's make a left turn!
16:25 Realization dawns and turnaround
17:08 Back at the fork in the road
17:39 Back down the mountain
18:40 Wrap up and a montage of our descent

The playlist for this series is here:
   • Off The Beaten Track - Dirt-Roading Califo...  

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